Health Ministry orders immediate removal of vending machines selling vapes following viral complaint

Ministry of Health Malaysia

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, July 12: The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) has instructed the management of a shopping centre in Peninsular Malaysia to immediately remove vending machines selling electronic cigarettes or vapes.

The Ministry took action following complaints about the sale of electronic cigarettes or vapes through vending machines, which went viral on X (formerly Twitter) on July 10.

According to a press statement today, the mall has agreed and complied with the recommendation.

MOH warned that the Smoking Product Control for Public Health Act 2024 [Act 852], Section 10 bans the sale and display of all smoking products.

The regulation related to sales, where the prohibition includes vending machine methods, is currently being refined and will be enforced together with Act 852 once approved.

The ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes through vending machines is a continuation of the prohibition on the sale of tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, and loose tobacco through vending machines under existing regulations, namely Regulation 10, Tobacco Control Regulations 2004 under the Food Act 1983 [Act 281].

As preparation towards the enforcement of the Act along with its rules and orders, MOH has conducted a series of Act 852 enforcement briefings to all MOH enforcement officers and Local Authorities (PBT) nationwide starting June 9, 2024.

This is to inform about the prohibitions under Act 852 and its regulations, including the ban on the sale of smoking products through vending machines. — DayakDaily